"Spencer Hawes said he expected to be back last week from his left Achilles strain.

Instead, he missed his ninth straight game Wednesday when the 76ers played the Chicago Bulls.

That's why he refused to say when he's going to return.

"I hope [to be back] as early as possible," Hawes said. "I said I'd be back last week. I'm done with the predictions."

Hawes said he ran again Wednesday morning, and he played in 2-on-2 games for the second day in a row. But the Achilles still bothers him when he tries to cut.

"It's just not there yet," Hawes said."